TRAI: Broadcasting Regulation Must Balance Growth, MIB Intervention Needed for Ad Cap Change

• TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti emphasized that broadcasting sector regulation should not hinder growth, assuring stakeholders of this balance.
• Lahoti clarified that TRAI is bound by existing laws and any change to the 10+2 advertising cap requires policy intervention from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
• Broadcasters reiterated their demand for a resolution to the advertising cap, arguing the 12-minute limit per hour hurts revenues and is outdated.
• TRAI recently issued show-cause notices to broadcasters for breaching the ad cap, reviving a decade-long dispute pending in the Supreme Court.
• Industry executives highlighted that strict enforcement of the cap strains broadcasters, especially as advertising shifts to digital platforms not subject to similar restrictions.

Why It Matters: TRAI seeks balanced regulation for broadcasting growth, but MIB intervention is crucial for ad cap reform.